Green’s Road To Redemption Starts Against Wlodarczyk

By Brock Ellis

RECENTLY dethroned IBO cruiserweight champion Danny Green has shelved plans for a contractually obligated rematch with future Hall of Famer and conqueror Antonio Tarver to instead take on what seems to be his most legitimate challenge in recent years when he faces former IBF and reigning WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, who he faces on November 30th at Perth’s Challenge Stadium.

In recent weeks, Green had been public rallying for a rematch with Tarver, who he was defeated by in comprehensive fashion last July via a ninth-round knockout – which was widely regarded as a major upset.

However, when talks with the former undisputed light-heavyweight champion broke down, Green and his representatives looked elsewhere and have arguably landed themselves a bigger fight with the twice-defeated Pole in Wlodarczyk.

On paper Wlodarczyk, 29, represents Green’s first real challenge as a cruiserweight. The Pole, who is nicknamed “Diablo” boasts an impressive resume (45-2-1), which includes victories over the previously unbeaten Francisco Palacios as well as nods over former world champion Giacobbe Fragomeni and current IBF cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham, who he split two highly competitive fights with in 2006 and 2007 respectively.

Despite his resume, the fight with Wlodarczyk has come with scathing criticism from the local media amidst claims that the Pole was recently in a medically induced coma due to an overdose of sleeping pills in conjunction with an alleged suicide attempt. Green (31-4) has hit back at those claims stating that the allegations are merely here-say.

“There was no suicide attempt and no coma. The bloke (Wlodarczyk) had an argument with his wife, couldn't sleep and took too many pills, he went into hospital and was out within 15 hours.” said Green.

The other scathing critic who has hit out at the Green-Wlodarczyk matchup is Antonio Tarver, who has claimed that the only stumbling block from a pending rematch with Green is the man himself. Tarver, 42, took aim at the Australian through his Twitter page stating that Green was trying to “fool the public” about their failed negotiations.

“Admit it (Danny) rather than trying to fool the public in believing I’m the hold up like you did 3 times before,” Tarver tweeted. “Danny Green you need not worry about football and let the world know why you're not exercising your rematch.”

Green was dismissive of Tarver’s claims and stated that anything publicized on social media was irrelevant by stating that “facts are facts” and that “social media is just that”. Green was honest in his assessment of the talks with Tarver and appeared to have firmly shifted his focus on his looming assignment with Wlodarczyk.

“Tarver is a very complicated guy,” Green said. “He's cagier outside the ring than he was inside the ring, so that will give you an indication of just how hard the guy is to deal with.”

“Yes, I want to avenge the Tarver loss but after our fight he went off chasing Denis Lebedev,” Green continued. “It never came off so he hopped on to Twitter and tried to start things up with us again.”

“To fight for the WBC title against Wlodarczyk, who’s one of the premier cruiserweights in the world, is a massive thing. I was world champion before my last fight, and I want to be world champion again.”

BoxingScene can also reveal that Green, 38, was deep into negotiations with Commonwealth cruiserweight champion Shane Cameron in what would have been big-money Trans-Tasman showdown before the talks with the former WBO #6 and WBA #14 world-rated heavyweight broke down.

One of the lingering issues appeared to be the location of the fight and the percentage of the New Zealand television rights that Cameron would receive. Cameron had fought several times on the undercard of Green in the last twelve-months, which only fueled speculation that the two would eventually clash.

Before Green steps into the ring to take on Wlodarczyk at Challenge Stadium, it seems more than likely that their matchup will not be the only world-title challenge that will be taking place that night.

It has been confirmed that undefeated Australian super-featherweight prospect “Wild” Will Tomlinson will face Argentine mauler Vicente Martin Rodriguez for the vacant IBO super-featherweight title.